Display case, receptacle and the like



March 28, 1957 J. s, v T ET AL DISPLAY CASE, RECEPTACLE AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Joseph 53 l/ffa/e Steven M. Brown BY W #W ATTORNEYS 28, 1967 J 5, T LE ET AL DISPLAY CASE, RECEPTACLE AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1965 INVENTORS Joseph 53 Vita/e Steven M Brown ATTORNEYS March 28, 1967 5, vlTALE ET AL DISPLAY CASE, RECEPTACLE AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 22, 1965 IN VENTORS Joseph 51 V/Ya/e ATTORNEYS Steven M Brown %M mm mm Nb Ow NM Oh mm L A T E E L A W V 5 .lm

DISPLAY CASE, HECEPTACLE AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 22, 1965 INVENTORS Joseph 52 Vi/a/e Steven M Brown ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISELAY CASE, RECEPTACLE AND THE L? E Joseph S. Vitale, New York, N.Y. (427 Faitonte Ave.,

Roselie Park, NJ. 07204), and Steven M. Brown,

Pleasantville, N.Y.; said Brown assignor of five-tenths to said Vitale Filed June 22, 1965, er. No. 465,892 6 Ciaims. (Cl. 312-286) The present invention relates to a receptacle, display case and the like such as receptacles for holding jewelry, coins, and other similar items.

The present invention relates more particularly to such a display case or receptacle that can be disposed in a compact position, and have the general configuration of a rectangular box, and when it is desired to display the individual items within the receptacle, it is only necessary to open up the receptacle so that a plurality of individual trays or display sections or members are provided for displaying the items therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a receptacle that can be made in an economical and inexpensive manner and which can be folded upon itself when the items carried in the receptacle are not to be displayed, so that the receptacle takes the form or configuration of a conventional rectangular box or attach case, so that no one will be aware of the fact that it may be carrying valuable coins, jewelry and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a substantially rectangular receptacle having a plurality of individual compartments therein for individually exhibiting coins, jewelry and other items, and further being provided with at least two rows or trays which can be stacked upon each other when the receptacle is in its closed or non-exhibiting position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle with a cover means that can be swung over the opening in the receptacle and fastened to latches to completely cover the items within the receptacle when it is not desired to display them.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle for displaying a plurality of individual items such as coins and the like provided with a plurality of individual trays that can be disposed in vertical alignment or stacked arrangement with each other, and can be disposed in a open condition by merely sliding the individual trays in opposite directions, when it is desired to show or exhibit the items within the receptacle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle having a plurality of sliding trays therein with individual compartments in each tray for holding the items to be displayed therein, and other enlarged compartments adjacent the opposite ends of the receptacle for displaying other items, and for carrying or storing accessories, such as a lamp and the like that can be readily plugged into an outlet socket when it is desired to light the exhibition of items carried in the receptacle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle having a plurality of individual compartments disposed in a tray with transparent means provided for permitting viewing of the items within the individual compartments while at the same time preventing them from being accidentally or inadvertently knocked out of the tray.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle having a plurality of trays therein in which the trays can be folded into place and a rear cover means disposed over the trays after they are disposed in their compact position so that the tray may be readily carried away.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle for carrying a plurality of coins, jewelry or other items to be exhibited, which receptacle has a plu- "ice rality of trays therein and which trays can be provided with detachable insert members such as synthetic velvet material which can be readily replaced if necessary or desired.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle embodying the present invention shown with the trays in their exhibition or display condition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the individual trays in their folded or compact position before the cover means is closed over the trays;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the cover member closed over the receptacle so it forms a compact rectangular configuration;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE '1 illustrating the receptacle in an exhibition position;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the receptacle shown in FIGURE 3 with the cover in a closed position;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another modification of the invention shown in an open or display condition;

FIGURE 9 is a view of the modification shown in FIGURE 8, but with the receptacle in a closed or shut position.

Referring to the drawings the referenced numeral 10 generally designates the receptacle or display case of the present invention. The receptacle is provided with a front side 12, a rear side 14, opposite end sides or walls 16, a top 18 and a bottom 20. The end walls 16 and the front and rear sides and the top and bottom are of such a configuration so that the receptacle when it is in a closed or shut position, as best seen in FIGURE 3, forms a substantially rectangular configuration. This configuration is similar to the usual conventional attach case or small valise or suitable.

Opposite ends of the receptacle are provided with substantially rectangular compartments 22 and 24 which extend between the front side 12 and the rear side 14 of the receptacle and between the bottom and top of the receptacle. Each compartment 22 and 24 consists of a front compartment wall 26, a rear compartment wall 28 and opposite side walls 30 with a hinged cover member 32 forming the top of the compartments. The bottom of the compartments 22 and 24 is provided bythe rectangular bottom of the receptacle as best illustrated in FIGURE 7. The hinged cover member 32 is hinged at 34 so that the cover member 32 swings inwardly or toward the central section of the receptacle. The rear compartment walls 28 are provided with substantially vertical rectangular slats 36. It will be noted that the inner end of the covers 32 extend beyond or overlap the side walls of the compartments when the cover member is disposed over the compartment as shown in FIG- URE 2.

Disposed between the end compartments 22 and 24 are a plurality of longitudinally extending individual trays, including a top tray 38, a middle tray and a lower or bottom tray 42. The trays consist of substantially rectangular members having a bottom 44 and a generally rectangular vertical frame designated 46 consisting of a front wall 48 and end walls 50 and a rear wall 52. The trays are preferably made of metal as is the receptacle and the compartments 22 and 24. The

top of the trays are provided with rectangular rims 54 extending therearound and the front end of the rim 54 has hinged at 56 a rectangular panel 58 which may be made of transparent plastic material or glass with a rim therearound and a handle 60 for pivoting the transparent member about the hinge 56. The transparent panels 58 enable a person to view the individual items disposed within the trays while at the same time preventing the items from being inadvertently knocked out of the trays. Also the panels or windows enable the items to be covered at all times, so that should the coins or jewelry be of extreme value, it would be difficult to appropriate them without such appropriation going unnoticed.

It will be noticed that the lower tray is slidably disposed in the receptacles so that it can slide in a direction forwardly of the front side 12 of the receptacle as best seen in FIGURES l and 4. It Will also be noted that the upper tray 38 is slidably disposed within the receptacle so that it can be moved or slid rearwardly of the rear side 14 as best seen in FIGURES l and 4. There are two L-shaped guide members 60 disposed on opposite side walls of the compartments 22 and 24, as best seen in FIGURE 1 for guiding the upper tray 38 therein. The middle tray 40 is prevented from falling down-in the receptacle by any suitable guide means, and by the rear end of the lower tray 42. The upper tray 38 is prevented from falling downwardly by the rear end of the middle tray 40 and the rear end of the guide members 60. If desired the trays can be interchangeable with each other, or in other words the tray 38 can become the bottom tray 42 if desired to switch these members.

Each tray is provided with an individual insertable member 62 made of cardboard material or other appropriate material coated with velveteen or other synthetic material normally found in jewelry or coin cases.

Each of the insertable members 62 is divided into a plurality of square compartments or recesses 64 for holding individual pieces of coins or jewelry. The individual compartments 64 are formed by a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending vertical ribs 66 and the bottom of the compartments 64 are preferably formed with a deep recess 68 adjacent the front end with an upstanding rib 70 terminating in an inclined surface 72 extending to the rear portion of the recess 64. This permits a coin that is disposed in an individual compartment to be easily grasped or picked up from the compartment when desired for closer inspection.

The rear side of the receptacle is provided with an upstanding rear wall '74 as shown in FIGURE 4 which extends the height of the lower and middle tray, and a cover member 76 is hinged at 78 to the lower end of the rear wall 74.

The cover member 76 is formed of three sections hinged to each other. The section 80 has its lower end hinged at 78 to the lower end of the receptacle while its upper end is hinged at 82 adjacent the top of the receptacle. The middle section 84 has its front end hinged at 82 and its rear end hinged at 86 to an L-shaped section 83. The L-shaped section 88 consists of a short section 90 and a long section 92 disposed perpendicular to the section 90. A handle 94 is disposed on the long section 92 for carrying the receptacle as a suitcase.

The length of the section 80 is substantially equal to the height of the three trays so that the middle section 84 of the cover member and the short leg 90 will extend across or cover the top of the receptacle, as best shown in FIGURE 3. The section 88 of the cover member is of sufiicient length so that it will extend downwardly alongside the front side 12 of the receptacle as best shown in FIGURE 3. The lower tray 42 is provided with two loop fasteners 96 adapted to hook over the latches or catches 98 on the section 88 of the cover member.

When it is desired to display the items within the receptacle, the receptacle is normally in a position shown in FIGURE 3 or in its closed or inoperative position, at

which time it can be readily carried like a suitcase. In order to dispose it in a display condition it is only necessary to unfasten the loop fasteners 96 from the latches 98 and thereafter fold back the cover member from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Thereafter the lower tray 42 may be pulled or slid in a forward direction forward of the front side of the receptacle by grasping the handles 100 shown in FIGURE 1. Thereafter the upper tray 38 may be moved or slid rearwardly of the receptacle by grasping similar handles on its rear side to the position shown in FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 4. At this time the receptacle and the individual items disposed in the recesses are in their exhibition or display position.

The end compartments 22 and 24 may be readily opened by pivoting the covers 32 about their hinges and a lamp or other material within the compartments may be made readily accessible. The cover members 32 may then be folded inwardly and the lamp disposed on the cover members 32 so that it will light up the display within the individual trays.

When it is desired to dismantle the receptacle from its display or exhibitioned position, it is only necessary to slide the trays in the direction indicated in the arrows with the lower tray 42 being moved or slid back into the receptacle and the upper tray 36 being moved or slid forwardly over the middle tray. Thereafter the cover members 32 can be folded inwardly and the top or cover member shown in FIGURE 5 can be moved from its position shown therein to the position shown in FIGURE 3 after which the latches 98 and fasteners 96 can be hooked to each other so that the receptacle can be readily carried.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, this modification of the invention is a two tray receptacle generally designated 102 having a first tray 104 and a second tray 106 which trays are substantially similar to the trays 38, 40 and 42. The trays are further provided with the usual glass panels 108 and 110 similar to the panels 58.

The trays are hinged together by three spaced piano hinges 112 connected to the adjacent sides of the trays. The trays are also adapted to be separated from each other by merely disconnecting one of the pintles of the hinge from the corresponding hinge portion thereof. Thus the two trays can be separated into individual or separate trays if desired. The second tray or the rear tray 106 is adapted to be folded forwardly and over the first tray or the lower tray 104 so that the receptacle is disposed in a closed or folded position as shown in FIGURE 9. Handles 112 are provided for carrying the connected trays or folded trays as a receptacle or in the same manner as a suitcase would be carried. The trays may also be provided with latches and fasteners similar to the latches and fasteners 98 and 96 already described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3. It will be noted that this modification of the invention does not have any end compartments but the trays extend the full length and width of the frame member forming the perimeter of the tray.

When it is desired to exhibit or display the contents of the receptacle shown in FIGURE 9 it is only necessary to flip open or fold back the upper or first tray 106 to the position shown in FIGURE 8 and thereafter to move it to a horizontal position. At this time both trays are facing upwardly with a glass panels therof disposed in a horizontal position adjacent one another so that the contents within the individual compartments of the trays can be readily seen by a viewer.

Thus from the foregoing description it is apparent that the present'invention provides a novel display receptacle or display container that is made up of a plurality of separate or individual trays, with the trays being disposed so as to be positioned in stacked relationship when the receptacle is in a closed position, and in side by side relationship, or disposed laterally of each other when it is desired to utilize the receptacle at an exhibition or to display the contents of the items therein, such as coins, jewelry and the like.

The present invention further provides a novel display receptacle that can be disposed in a compact manner and easily transported from one place to another, with the contents of the receptacle completely closed otf from view so that the receptacle looks like a normal or ordinary suitcase, and the valuable contents of the receptacle cannot be ascertained from merely viewing the closed receptacle.

Inasmuch as various changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Areceptacle for holding coins and the like comprising a frame forming a substantially rectangular structure including a top, a bottom, an open front side and a rear side member extending upwardly from the bottom, a lower rectangular tray slidably disposed on said bottom, a middle tray slidably disposed on said lower tray, an upper tray slidably disposed on said middle tray, said rear side member terminating below the lower end of said upper tray, and a hinged cover member positioned to cover the rear side, top and front of said structure, said cover member being hingedly connected to the lower rear side edge of said structure.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises a first vertical section extending between said lower rear side edge and the upper edge of said rear side, a hinge connected to the upper edge of said first section, a second section connected to said upper edge hinge and being substantially smaller in width than the top of said structure, a third section hingedly connected to said second section and adapted to extend across a portion of said top and along said front side.

3. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein transversely extending compartments are provided adjacent opposite ends of said structure.

4. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein said third section is substantially L-shaped.

5. The receptacle of claim 4 wherein latch and fastening means are provided to fasten said cover member to said structure, and handle means are disposed on said L-shape section.

6. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein coin holder members are inserted within said trays consisting of a plurality of individual compartments formed by intersecting ribs and the bottom of said individual compartments are inclined and formed with a recess for readily grasping a coin disposed therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,855 11/ 1907 Huntington 206-.83 886,066 4/ 1908 Obertrifter 206- 935,420 9/1909 Smith 20672 994,893 6/1911 Voye 206.84 1,016,148 1/1912 Heinicke 206-44 1,179,973 4/1916 Streit 206-45 1,464,934 8/1923 Hoadley 312286 1,990,398 2/1935 Beddingfield 3l2118 2,582,575 1/ 1952 Young 35--60 2,620,220 12/ 1952 Gresham 29624 2,792,934 5/1957 Rocchetti 206--17 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING COINS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A FRAME FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR STRUCTURE INCLUDING A TOP, A BOTTOM, AN OPEN FRONT SIDE AND A REAR SIDE MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM, A LOWER RECTANGULAR TRAY SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID BOTTOM, A MIDDLE TRAY SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID LOWER TRAY, AN UPPER TRAY SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID MIDDLE TRAY, SAID REAR SIDE MEMBER TERMINATING BELOW THE LOWER END OF SAID UPPER TRAY, AND A HINGED COVER MEMBER POSITIONED TO COVER THE REAR SIDE, TOP AND FRONT OF SAID STRUCTURE, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER REAR SIDE EDGE OF SAID STRUCTURE. 